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Recognized as an Effective School-to-Work Practice,
December 2003
Educating College Students About Unions
Teamsters Local 122
Boston, Massachusetts
Overview of the Project
For the past ten years, Local 122’s Principal Officer
John Murphy has been reaching out to graduate students
at Harvard Business School through the Harvard Trade
Union Program. In his interaction with the students
(which now numbers well over 100), Murphy outlines the
role of unions in our society and explains how unions
function in the U.S. versus Canada, the United Kingdom
and other European countries. This is done through
classroom lectures and discussion.
The Need
Murphy was first contacted by a professor of the Harvard
Business School and asked to address graduate students
on the role and functions of labor unions. He seized the
opportunity and arranged to give presentations to the
students.
Murphy found that the majority of students at the school
knew very little about the role of labor unions and they did
not have a clear understanding of why workers seek to belong
to a labor organization. All too often, information that is
provided to students on the types of occupations available
is limited to those that require extensive postsecondary
preparation or "corporate" level experience. As a result,
most students are not exposed to the many highly skilled,
rewarding, and good paying occupations held by those who
belong to labor unions. There is a definite need to educate
these students on the many advantages of working in a good
union job, whether as a professional or otherwise.
Meeting the Need
In his initial presentation, Murphy learned that the
students had never come in contact with a union
representative nor had they ever been directly exposed
to the American labor movement; therefore, they felt
philosophically challenged about the need for unions. He
talked to them about the role of unions and the American
capitalistic society–the struggles workers go through in
their daily lives. He was questioned extensively on the
role of unions and asked whether unions are a positive
or negative force and whether there is such a thing as
“enlightened corporate entities.” He gave many reasons
to support the fact that unions are a positive force in
the world of work, in local communities, in the national
economy as well as in the global economy.
In a typical presentation, Murphy uses basic terms in order
to help students understand the struggle unions have had
over the years to obtain higher wages as well as better
benefits and working conditions for workers everywhere. He
showed them the significant differences between the wages
and benefits of union workers versus nonunion workers.
The Results
Murphy believes that the program has been successful in
satisfying the curiosity of many students regarding
unions and their contribution at different levels of our
economy–locally, nationally, and globally. Students who
originally had no concept of what a union is, yet
harbored negative views of trade unions, now have a
better understanding of unions and many have changed
their views about the labor movement. They heard
first-hand what the labor movement has accomplished for
workers, and what it is still doing to provide workers a
voice in the workplace in both the private and public
sectors.
Reflections
In reflecting on his experience with this program,
Murphy is reminded that even some members of his own
local union, being products of the American education
system, do not have a deep understanding of labor’s
roots. Unfortunately, the rich history of the labor
movement is ignored in many schools and students are not
given the opportunity to explore the events that led to
the start of the labor movement and the accomplishments
gained over the years. This undertaking has taught him
to develop patience and understanding with people who
have different levels of knowledge of the labor
movement.
In referring to how this program has impacted him, Murphy
said, “You have to develop a presence of mind to appeal to
someone who is not sympathetic to what you believe
in–something that has proven to work for me and millions of
others. Programs like the Harvard program give us the
opportunity to talk to students and give them the history of
and information on an integral part of our society that all
too often is overlooked.”
More Information
For
additional information about Educating College Students
About Unions, contact:
Mr. John F.
Murphy, Secretary-Treasurer
Teamsters Local 122
765 East Third Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02127
Phone: 617-268-6855
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